Fluid-meter.



J. W. LEDOUX.

FLUID METER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1910.

Patented Sept. 17, 1912.

2 SHEETS-BHBBT 1.

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J. W. LEDOUX.

FLUID METER;

APPLICATION I mm) MAY21,'1910.

- Patented Sept. 1'7, 1912,-

2 SREETBBEEET 2.

i r ic -m rr re M ll 'fi nae/Jain FLUID-METER Specification of Letters Patent.

wry ,7 1; 17 r I intended wept. l i MHZ Application ra a may 21,191fi. Serial I-lTo. 562,567.

To all whom iz' may concern it ltnown that 1, (Four: lV. Lnncnx, a citizen of the United States, residing at Swz'irthmore, in the county of Delaware and citate of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Fluid-Meters, of which the following is a'specification.

lily invention is a tluid meter in which a liquid heavier ti an that tobe measured is displeced proportionately to changes in dit 'ferimtial pressures rcsnlting'from the flow to be measured and an integrating mecha' nism is controlled so that its operation is a it'unction of the displacement.

The leading purpose of my invention is to provide a simple apparatus having a nice degree oi accuracy and capable of effecting a moven'ienl which is a simple proportion of the flow.

A turthcr object o'l my invention is to provide an a njmratus in which the parts to which fluid pressure is applied are so constructed and contained as to avoid leakage.

The nature of my invention. will fully appear by reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings in illustration thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation representing: apparatus embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 a sectional eleration representing a second form of the innu'ovemcnts; and Fig. 3 is a sectional eleation representing a third torn thereof.

The invention, as illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a casing 1 having within the lower end thereof the closed receptacle or chamber 2 surromuling, a passage 3 and above the chamber 2 an open receptacle or chamber 4 surrounding a passage 5. An open tubular receptacle 6 comprising the enlarged bottom compartment 6 movable in the 3 and a contracted top compartn'icnt (3 movable in the passage 5, is suspended by means of a-tcnsion member .7 which passes over-a sheave 8 fixed on the shaft 9 within the casing, the shaft being journaled in bearings 10 in the walls of the casing. A sheave H is fixed to the shaft exterior to the casing and has a counterpoise 12 connect ed therewith by the tension member 13 to counter-balance the movable or mercury in the comparnncnt b fluid pressure mechanism Within the casing". A flexible tube 14- connccls the bottom of the ehan'ibcr Q with the bottom oi' the chamber 6, whereby mercury contained in the chamber 2 may be forced into the compartment 6 which has a comparatively large diameter to avoid the use ot a tube oi inconvenient length. A float 15, cored to encircle the top of the. member 43 and the inner circular wall of the chamber 4, is connected by the yoke 16 to the chamber l) and is movable thereby in the chamber 4, which ci'm'taius mercury. 'his float being a ligurc ot revolution, has the lower part to shaped to have a displacement bearing a constant ratio to the volume and the upper part ct such character that the displacement. when any part of it is submerged sl all bear a constant ratio to the volume of mercury in the compartmmit ll.

Aconduit 17, provided with a' Vcuturi section 17', has a normal section lhcrcot connected by the duct. l8 with the top of the chamber 9 and the throat of it's Venturi section connected by the duct 19 with the bottom of the casino; 1. When there is no flow in the conduit 1?, liquid contained therein rises thiough the ducts 18 and ill and exerts equal pre :ures on the surt'accs ol the mercury in the chambers '2 and (3, the latter having; an open top. As the How in the conduit rises from zero to the maximum, since the pressure conununicalcil through the duct '18 grows gradually greater than the pressure commonicatcd through the duct. 19 the re sultant or ditl'crenlial pressures will force the mercury from the chamber 2, through the duct 14, into the chamber (3. As the quantity of mercury in the chamber 6 increases, the chaml'icr gradually descends against the resistance opposed by the float- 15, which is carried down'mirdly in the mor cury contained in the chamber 1-. The float is shaped so that the volume of mercury which it displaces shall maintain '21 simple ratio to the rate oi {low and the movement of the parts connected therewith shall be in a simple proportion to changes in the rate of flow. The movement of the rcciprocatin receptacle and float, is communicate through the tension member 7 and sheave 8 to the shaft 9 which has thereon exterior to the casing a gear wheel 20. This wheel engages a circular track 21' on the revoluble and longitudinally movable shaft 21 having fixed thereon a traction Wheel 22, movable on the constantly revolving disk 23, between its center and periphery whereby the shaft 21 operates a register 24.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2, the casing 25 contains the closed stationary receptacle or chamber 26, with the passage 27 therethrough, the open stationary receptacle or chamber 28 having its top disposed in said passage and the movable open chamber or receptacle 29 disposed in the passage 27 and extending around the top of the chamber 28. The chamber 29 is connected by 'a yoke 30 with afloat 31 disposed in mercury contained in the chamber 28 and with a rack 32 which engages a gear wheel 33 fixed on a shaft 40, the latter being journaled in bearings 41 in the casing. A sheave 42 is fixed to the shaft exterior to the easing and is connected by a tension member i3 with a counter weight 52 for balancing the movable mechanism 'within the casing. The chamber 26 has its bottom connected by a flexible tube 4a with the tubular ring 45, which is connected with the bottom of the chamber 29 through the tubular uprights 46, through which means mercury in the chamber 29 is in communication with the chamber 26. The conduit 47, provided with a Venturi section 47 has a normal sec- I tion connected by a duct 48 with the bottom of the casing 25 and the throat of its Venturi section connected by a duct 49 with the top of the vessel 26. When there is 'no flow in the conduit, the float 31 has its sections 31. and 31 submerged so that the apex of the section 31 touches the surface of the mercury, the pressures communicated through the ducts 48 and &9 are equal and the surfaces of the mercury are at the same level in the chambers 26 and 29. As the flow in the conduit rises from zero to the maximum, the gradually increasing resultant of the pressures communicated through the ducts l8 and 49, or the gradually in creasing diiferential pressure, forces mercury gradually out of the chamber 29-and into the chamber 26, consequently the chamber 29 and the float 31 rise and the rack 32 acts through the gear 33 to revolve the shaft &0. A' gear Wheel 50 on the shaft 40, exterior to the casing 25, acts on a circular rack 51' of the revoluble and longitudinally movable shaft 51, which'operates the regisering mechanism, as previously described.

The float sections 31 and 31', are so shaped that the movement of. the float is a simple proportion of the changes in the rate of flow in the conduit, the section 31 having a displacement corresponding with the volume of mercury in the chamber 29 while the section 31 is shaped in correspondence with the volume of mercury in the passages -15 and 46.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3, the

casing 55 has therein the stationary receptacle or chamber 56 having the lower compartment 56 of comparatively small diameter and the upper compartment 56' of,

larger diameter. A movable receptacle or chamber 57 is connected by a tenslon member 58 with a sheave 59 fixed on a shaft 60 journaled in bearings 61. A weight 62 is connected by a tension member 63 to thesheave 59 and serves as a counter-balance for the chamber 57 and the parts connected therewith. A chain 64 is Wound on the sheave 59 fixed to the sheave 59. A rigid tube 65 is connected with the bottom of the chamber 56 and a jflexible tube 66 connects the bottom of the chamber 57 with the top of the tube 65. A stationary compartment 67 is formed in the casing .55 andcontains mercury in which is immersed, to a greater or less extent, a float 68 having the sections 68' and 68, the float being connected by a rack 69 with the bottom of the chamber 57.

A conduit 70, provided with a Venturi secshaft 76 revoluble and longitudinally mov-- able in the bearing 77. A wheel 78, fixed on the shaft 76, makes contact with a constantly rotating disk 79, the disk being revolved by a clock 80 acting through the bevel gear 81 on its shaft 82 andthe bevel gear 83 On the shaft 84., which carries the disk. It will be understood that the shaft, 7 6 operates a register 24, as previously described. Tn' order to relieve the frictional engagement between the parts 78 and 79, at regular intervals, the shaft 84 is movable through its bearings 86 and 87 and is sup-' ported by a spring 88 which rests on the bearing 86 and acts through a collar 89 ii. ed on the shaft. a gear 90 which engages a gear 91 on a revoluble shaft 92 having a worm- 93 thereon, the latter acting through a worm wheel 94 on a shaft 95 which carries a star wheel or peculiarly shaped cam 96. This star wheel is revolved at a regular rate and the points thereof engage, at regularintervals,

the collar 89, to give a slight downward,

movement to the shaftv 84 against the actionof the spring 88, the latter restoring the shaft at the end of'the movement of depres i The gear 83 has fixed thereto mergenee of the Hunt s fl id meter a closed casing, a

sien. lilieii'eliy the (llSlE "i9 is slightly reutienerv chamber, an open chimp ciprecutedv 'ierieilically and the engagement i r a of the wheel 78 tlnis relieved, ii hen lllQLC er in said. casing, means for balancing said is no flew in the conduit, the pressures COH1- open clnunben a duct comprising a flexible municated from the liquid tlerein tlirenq'li mc 'iber connecting said chambers, and a the ducts 71 and T2 are equal, mercury stand at the same level in the chambers 56 the inevenn-int of said open clmn'iber.

and 57 the point f the fl at s ct-i0 65$ 4;. in a iiuicl meter, u (.cmluiii means for will tench the surizice oi? the mercury in the l i l n a g 10 pre ure 0f iu ii flOWing 10 commitment 6'7 and the wheel 78 will be in sane 0011:1111 it :1 closed siuiionary recepthe center cl? tie disk "{1}. gi th {1 i th Lucie means whereby pressure from Iinicl conduit rises from zero m the maxiin'un'n W ng' n Sa d k mld' it com m'iicuted t0 the gradually increasing (liilerentiel pr said 'rcce ptzic e, n balanced receptacle, u duct sure forces the niermwy out cf the compel-tcomprising; a flexible member connecting 15 ment 56, gl nuligngm V ith hi h w said reccptucl s, u liquid hcuviecthun that flout section 68 beceln fully submerged, te l)t ll.l3&l%l1l0(l for sealing the ceinmunicaunii then (.lmvnwarlly into the eempurtnient U 1 etween Said receptacles through said 5G with a col-respending rise of. mercury 'uict,n1euns whereby (iil'ierential pressure in the chamber 57 and a cerrcspnncling sub 11011: fluid flowing in said conduit is comti 65:" M 51 i niuuic ted n said balanced. receptacle, and (54: cenipcnsuliingg fer the tube G6 so that d displacing mechanism for regulating whatever proportion of the Weight oi the the mevement of said balanced receptacle, l m jg -g b 111 57 a lli said ilisplucing mechanism comprising an portion of the former will be unwound to H9 1 and fl ClOViP/Q eilepfe-d 1301 25 counterbalance it. As the flout moves flewin p g ni-cl tliu'ein so as to regulate the g'uydly in {he n g u'in 511g whgg} noveg lllOVClDfilli; 0i Stud bzllftDCQd vessel in the 96 from the center tewiird. the periphery of l'fl li Of the cliQnQ'eS in the rate of the How the disk 79, by which it is revolved. T110 meilSulehlwheel revolves tue shaft 76 which uctueies In a iluid meter, :1 closed easing, a stu- 30 the registering mechanism. This flout us in n-Hy los d cham er, balan ed open th previous fol-[118112154 Surface 1 chamber meveliie in said casing, a duct tien cf sncli character tlnit i'ls meveme 1i, and hun'i e lexible member fer connecting that of the parts cennecl'eil therewith main;- cl eliumbei a liquid displacing nieclnituin simple will: lie the changes in the liow H1 fiom'jjnismg a {lent mevable with $11M 3 in. the ccniinit. l ziiunceil chamber, a cencluit, a duct connect- Fuving; described my invention, L 01 111; mg said conduit Willi said closed chamber, 160

1. In infield meter irlicnury rect )tucle It cluet :i'ter connecting sniil conduit with said i balanced rece'. e, :1 (lust ceinprisingg; i g, 3113 111 integrating meclranisnl regw .fl xible member 7. connecting said reccpl fi y U19 mcmellt Of Sii d 12111511026.

40 'tccles, u liquil. heavier than that "c be s (f ni e- 01- V l urecl for sealing cenununicaticn between E11 fi 3 010% 8 53, Sit; 05 said receptacles l1 ceiuiuit,;zz (met for cony i balanced P necting Sm eenlil 'w with said stationery mv pl 1n d t g, 3 d

' w d le ve *5 1 1 1 connecting fill-id ciizunbu'r, a float lined te 4.5 :1. duct fur (ii mg suid Ct'I-l'lllllli; lllil inc able with ssii'lbelenced clnunber, u

icllzmlanccd ii-eeen ulbu cu.1M1 cl'iuinlzer in. Wnieh said lent acts, en nteof suil heavier liquid i L liquid Llisplue 1 ting; mechanism regulated by the mereing ineclwnisni for r. i the ineven: t 1m t eif senl balanced clm nlicr, Saul 1nlecl? cl l'mflnceil c displzic arming; mechanism comprising atrectien 5e illQ'ijlhHliHlli ell 1 menus wherel'iy said wheel is ELLlJUStLd beur;--; :i la of said. balanced chamber,

g siting said wheel,

" l :1] 1y n'iev able mcmber, c

56 ticinirj; 1 means lLl lmluecesi (:5. I static; wiry lilicnury r0 30}?- niiier 1 v 7 a: 311151 \vlierel 'g* mtiiculea =1. liquid dis-- hetreiling the lite Kl 'ucle, cnntrcllcil acting" 6 net in i n liquid displacingmechanism for regulating 7 0 integrating mechanism comprising a conmy name this 19th day of May, 1910, in the stantly revolving devicelhaving a surfglce of presence 01" the subscribing Witnesses. revolution, a traction W ieel revolved y en- 1 r1 gogement with said surface, and means for JOHN LEDUUX' periodically Withdrmving Said device from Witnesses: said wheel. 50s. G. DENNY, J'x'.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set] ROBT. E. KETGHEL. 

